Nonprofit Jargon: 22 Phrases We Love to Hate

5 min

Like a great song you’ve heard just one too many times, there are certain words and phrases we hear at the office that are like nails on a chalkboard. Sometimes, the word isn’t a great fit in the first place; other times, it’s just plain overused.

We took to Twitter to find out which phrases irk the nonprofit community. The following list is inspired by the comments we received and our own experience working with the nonprofit industry.

Are you guilty of any of the phrases below? Check out what each one means and learn simple, more specific alternatives you can use in your day-to-day.

Overused at the Office

1. Deep Dive

What it means: Professionals commonly use this as both a verb and a noun. It can mean to explore a topic in greater detail, or it can refer to an exploration of a topic.

6. Disruption

What it means: The act of uprooting current methods and replacing them with new ways of thinking or execution. While it tends to have a negative connotation, the tech space likens the concept to innovation and progress.

In a sentence:“Digital disruption has changed the fundraising game and brought it online.”

Alternatives:

Challenging the market

Making a left turn

7. Missed Opportunity

What it means: A project, strategy, or initiative of some kind that would have been fruitful to act on, often revealed in hindsight.

22. Cutting Edge

In a sentence:“Using cutting edge technology, we inform nomadic farmers where the best fields for grazing are.”

Alternatives:

New

Leading

Advanced

Groundbreaking

Whenever possible, try to clarify and simplify the language you use in the office and with your larger community. If we take an extra moment to debunk our hot, go-to terms, we stand a better chance at communicating effectively.

Any favorites or any terms we missed? Share the phrases you love to hate in the comments below.